New York Governing Body Information

2018 Marijuana Packaging Laws Update

It’s been a long road for the legalization of cannabis in New York, with mayors and citizens alike calling for change all through the twentieth century. Just before legalization, in the later waves of decriminalization, New York City ceased minor possession arrests. Later that year, the Empire State passed legislation to permit cannabis for medical purposes. The New York Medical Marijuana Program as established by the Compassionate Care Act created their program.

Just like in most medical cannabis states, the possession of small amounts of cannabis is decriminalized. Possession of 25 grams (just under an ounce) all the way up to eight ounces only incurs a misdemeanor and a fine that increases with the amount. Possession of anything beyond that state mandated “personal use” amount, selling more than 25g, trafficking any amount, and are all classified as felonies.

Medical Cannabis Laws in New York

The New York Medical Marijuana Program oversees all the regulations for dispensaries, patients, providers, and caregivers in the Empire State. The law allows patients to hold a 30 day supply of cannabis-infused, non-smokable products if they suffer from a qualifying condition. Patients allowed to utilize medicinal marijuana are people suffering from chronic pain, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, multiple sclerosis and several others. Patients are not allowed to grow their own cannabis, but they are allowed to have up to two caregivers.

Retail Cannabis Business Rules in New York

In New York, registered businesses are allowed to distribute non-smokable cannabis products such as lotions, ointments, patches, chewables, tablets, and lozenges. Other non-smokable forms can be permissible for distribution as well. To apply to operate as a registered organization, one must submit an application and a nonrefundable application fee . For selling purposes, organizations can only extract from the leaves and flowers of female plants. Each product brand must have a specific concentration of THC and CBD and have a consistent cannabinoid profile.

2017 Marijuana Packaging Laws Update

The New York Medical Marijuana Program oversees all the regulations for dispensaries, patients, providers, and caregivers in the Empire State. They’ve set pretty thorough guidelines for packaging, including resealable, tamper evident, child resistant, and light proof features. The labeling regulations are pretty unique in that they require the NYMMP to approve all labels before they can be affixed to the marijuana product packaging. They also have detailed guidelines for the text and information that should be on the labels. Read on for some of the specific regulations, and check the link at the bottom of the quote for the full text of the law.

“(g) Approved medical marihuana products shall be limited to the following forms and routes of administration:

(1) liquid or oil preparations for metered oromucosal or sublingual administration or administration per tube;

(2) metered liquid or oil preparations for vaporization;

(3) capsules for oral administration; or

(4) any additional form and route of administration approved by the commissioner. Smoking is not an approved route of administration.

(5) approved medical marihuana products may not be incorporated into edible food products by the registered organization unless approved by the commissioner.

(h) The registered organization shall package the final form of the approved medical marihuana product at the manufacturing site. The original seal shall not be broken except for quality testing at an approved laboratory, for adverse event investigations, by the department, or by the certified patient or designated caregiver.

(i) The registered organization shall package the approved medical marihuana product such that it is child-resistant, tamper-proof/tamper-evident, light-resistant, and in a resealable package that minimizes oxygen exposure.

(k) Each approved medical marihuana product shall be affixed with a product label. Medical marihuana product labels shall be approved by the department prior to use. Each product label shall be applied at the manufacturing facility, be easily readable, firmly affixed and include:

(1) the name, address and registration number of the registered organization;

(2) the medical marihuana product form and brand designation;

(3) the single dose THC and CBD content for the product set forth in milligrams (mg);

(i) “Medical marihuana products must be kept in the original container in which they were dispensed and removed from the original container only when ready for use by the certified patient”;

(ii) “Keep secured at all times”;

(iii) “May not be resold or transferred to another person”;

(iv) “This product might impair the ability to drive”;

(v) “KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN (unless medical marihuana product is being given to the child under a practitioner’s care”); and

(vi) “This product is for medicinal use only. Women should not consume during pregnancy or while breastfeeding except on the advice of the certifying practitioner, and in the case of breastfeeding mothers, including the infant’s pediatrician.”